Do Not Disturb - Catherine Tate in new Gold commission

20 August 2015

London, Thursday 20 August 2015: A boutique hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon is the setting for the latest origination for UKTV's flagship comedy channel, Gold. Do Not Disturb stars the foremost comedy actress of her generation, Catherine Tate and in her first role since the hugely popular Car Share, Sian Gibson, and is due to TX from January 2016 as part of the on-going commissioning investment from the multi-award winning media company.

The exclusive hour-long (1 x 60') comedy from Lonesome Pine Productions Ltd focuses on estranged husband and wife Anna (Tate), and John (Jupp), who attempt reconciliation talks after her extra marital affair with a much younger man.

With Tate's character checking into the honeymoon suite, her husband unexpectedly heads to the room a short while later. To add to the confusion, unbeknown to the couple, a 21-year-old man is lying comatose, semi-naked, and asleep in the bathtub, recovering from a rowdy stag do.

What happens next will either make or break their marriage for good. Anna now has to come up with a plan, deal with well-meaning though hapless hotel staff, and try not to rouse the suspicions of her husband, who has been rocked by her previous betrayal.

Do Not Disturb has been commissioned by UKTV Commissioning Editor Simon Lupton and ordered by Gold's General Manager, Steve North.

Simon Lupton said, "We're delighted that Catherine Tate will bring her unique wit and comedy genius to the heart of this landmark programme for Gold. Do Not Disturb has all the hallmarks of a brilliant comedic set up that will resonate with the channel's audience."

General Manager of Gold, Steve North commented, "This is another new and exciting commission for the Gold schedule in 2016. With a stellar cast delivering a superb script from Aschlin Ditta, Do Not Disturb will provide Gold's viewers with a must see TV event for the New Year."

Lesley Douglas from Lonesome Pine Productions Ltd said, "Directed by award-winning Nigel Cole (Calendar Girls and Made in Dagenham), Do Not Disturb reunites the talents of Catherine Tate with writer Aschlin Ditta - the first time they have worked together since the acclaimed Catherine Tate Show. We're delighted to have teamed up with UKTV to bring this combination to their flagship comedy channel, Gold."

Do Not Disturb is part of Gold's continued commitment to commission original content fronted by stellar talent. The hour long special will sit alongside brand new scripted programmes including Bull starring BAFTA award winner Robert Lindsay and Maureen Lipman and Marley's Ghosts featuring John Hannah, Jo Joyner and Sarah Alexander, which is being made by John Stanley Productions, the company co-founded by Matt Lucas. Other successful recent commissions include Bob Monkhouse: Million Joke Man, which reached 416,000 viewers and was up 267% on slot average and The Interviews reached 333,000 viewers and was up 144% on slot average.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

About Gold (Sky 110, Virgin 126, TalkTalk 408, Top-Up TV 20)

Dedicated to celebrating the best of British comedy, Gold is the nation's favourite comedy channel. Much-loved comedy series such as Only Fools and Horses, The Vicar of Dibley and Outnumbered sit alongside successful commissions including Porridge: Inside Out, The Comic Strip Presents: Five Go To Rehab (starring Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders), You, Me and Them, Bring Me Morecambe and Wise, Monty Python Live (mostly): One Down Five to Go and the ultimate Python documentary Monty Python: The Meaning of Live. The perfect tonic to make you laugh whatever the time of day, Gold shows universally funny content that everyone can enjoy.

About UKTV

UKTV is the multi-award winning media company that reaches 42 million viewers a month.

UKTV's eleven imaginative brands - UKTV Play, Dave, Watch, Gold, Alibi, Yesterday, Drama, Really, Home, Eden and Good Food - include the most popular non-PSB channel in the UK and account for 9% of the British commercial TV market. The company's most recent financial results showed record-breaking year-end revenue of £283m and EBITDA of £74.1m. It invested £123m in programming and related launches last year, and is becoming an increasingly significant investor in UK creativity.
UKTV has a truly innovative model, curating brand-defining commissions, high-profile acquisitions and the very best of BBC, alongside programmes originally shown on ITV and Channel 4. The network embraces technology to deliver inspired channels to audiences through Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk, YouView and UKTV Play, and distributes its highly valued original programmes to 200 territories.

Now celebrating its 22nd year at the forefront of digital television, UKTV - an independent commercial joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. (SNI) - is proud to be the only British television broadcaster to be recognised by Best Companies.